MADISON, NJ (January 8, 2025) -- A star-studded performance by the King's College women's basketball team, led by a career-high double-double from Lauren Casey, saw the Monarchs defeat the host FDU-Florham, 70-48, in their Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) opener. With the win on Wednesday night, the Monarchs improve to 5-7 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while the Devils drop to 3-9 with an 0-1 MAC Freedom mark.
 
After both teams settled into their conference opener, Alli Lindsay fed Lauren Casey in the paint to put King's (5-7, 1-0 MAC Freedom) on the board first. The host FDU-Florham (3-9, 0-1 MAC Freedom) scored five points in the next 36 seconds compared to a pair of free throws by Casey for the Monarchs, but after another scoring drought a three from Gianna Dickson sparked a 14-2 run for King's as they ended the first ahead, 18-7.
 
Another slow start in the second saw the Monarchs maintaining their lead, 27-11, with 4:41 left in the second. The Devils finished the half strong, out scoring King's 10-3 in the final 2:52 of the quarter, but the Monarchs continued to hold a 30-21 edge over the Devils at the break.
 
It was a huge third quarter for the Monarchs as they out scored FDU-Florham 28-20. King's went inside to Casey and Juleesah Hines to start before Lindsay drained a three before the Devils got on the board with 8:23 remaining in the frame. The Monarchs over powered FDU-Florham in the paint as Casey scored the next eight points as their lead jumped to 45-27 with 5:57 left.
 
A scoring flurry ensued with both teams scoring on the next seven trips down the floor with King's still ahead, 53-35, with 3:54 to go. The scoring slowed down the stretch but not before a layup from Casey with 10 seconds to go pushed the Monarchs advantage to 58-41 heading into the final quarter of play.
 
FDU-Florham scored the first basket in the fourth, but King's responded and went on a 10-0 run to reach their largest lead in the contest, 68-43, with 2:12 to play. The teams traded scores on their next possessions, and the Devils hit a three with 23 seconds left, but it was too little too late as the Monarchs dominated their MAC Freedom opener, 70-48, at FDU-Florham on Wednesday night.
 
Casey poured in career-highs of 25 points and 17 rebounds to go along with two assists and a block, while Dickson added 13 points and a steal. Lindsay flirted with a triple-double with 11 rebounds, a team-high eight assists, seven points, and a block, and Cadie Lewis filled the stat sheet with 10 rebounds, five points, three blocks, two assists, and two steals. Hines totaled six points and six boards, and Kathy Shepherd came off the bench to add nine points and seven rebounds.
 
The Devils were led by Bianca Sode with 19 points and five rebounds.
 
King's had a solid shooting night, connecting for 24-of-61 from the floor and an impressive 47.1% (8-for-17) from beyond the arc. Sixteen assists fueled their 24 field goals, while the defense limited the Devils to 25.7% shooting in the contest. The Monarchs also dominated the glass, out rebounding FDU-Florham 62-29 which led to an 11-4 edge in second-chance points, while King's had the upper hand in bench points (14-7), points in the paint (28-12), and fast break points (13-4).
 
The Monarchs look to continue their momentum on Saturday afternoon as they host Arcadia University in MAC Freedom play at 1:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.